1. Context Clues: You be the Detective

2. But What Are Context Clues? Context clues are bits of information from the text that, when combined with prior knowledge, allow you to decide the meaning of unknown words in the story or article you are reading. As a reader you must act similar to a detective and put together clues from sentences surrounding an unknown word in order to make an intelligent “guess” as to what the definition of a word is.

3. Types of Context Clues Authors use many different types of context clues when writing texts. Three of these types are:  Direct definition context clues  Synonym context clues  Antonym context clues

4. Direct definition context clues are words that say, “Stop - don’t touch that dictionary. The definition of the word you don’t know is right here in the text!" EXAMPLES:  There are many theories, or ideas, about what made the Ice Ages happen.  In this sentence the word “ideas” tells us that theories are different thoughts people have about something.  After a time, glaciers, or slowly moving rivers of ice, formed over many parts of the Earth.  In this sentence the words “slowly moving rivers of ice” tell us what glaciers are.

5. Synonym context clues are words around a difficult word that mean the same or nearly the same as the word. EXAMPLES:  After seeing the picture of the starving children, we felt compassion or pity for their suffering.  In this sentence the word “pity” tells us that compassion means to have understanding for.  Mary admonished her students and they knew they were in hot water for their actions.  In this sentence the words “in hot water” tell us that admonished means cautioned or scolded.

6. Antonym context clues are words around a difficult word that mean the opposite or nearly the opposite as the word. EXAMPLE:  Joe was reluctant to take the job of captain of the team. He was afraid that the time it would take would hurt his grades. On the other hand, Billy was eager for the chance to be the team captain.  In this sentence the words “on the other hand” and “eager” tell us that Billy feels the opposite of Joe, therefore, reluctant means uncertain or cautious.

7. Now it is YOUR turn to be a detective and follow the clues!

8. Context Clues Practice Activity Your friend, Maria, has moved to New Zealand and is learning a new language. Read what he wrote in her journal and see if you can figure out the meaning to the underlined words. Dear Journal, I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of poof-poofs very quickly, and I almost missed the tramzam. When I got to school, I realized I had forgotten my zilgping. Luckily, Ms. Jutzi is very zoosh, and told me I could bring it tomorrow. After school, some friends and I played plingming. It’s a new game I am learning. We scored 7 points and they only scored 5 points, so we were the zoiters! Dad says that next weekend we’re going to the fladder. I can’t wait! I love to swim and play in the sand. I hope I don’t get a sunburn though. Well, I better go to bed soon. I don’t want to wake up late again and miss my tramzam! Until tomorrow, Maria

9. Directions It’s time for some detective work. Take each word from Ryan’s diary that is written in his new language and use the context clues in the text to figure them out!

10. Practice What could the word plingming mean? ► The sentences tell me it is a game Ryan and his friends play against each other and that points can be scored. What do you think it is? ► The most logical guess would be a sport such as basketball or soccer. What could the word zoiters mean? ► The sentences tell me that Ryan’s team scored 7 points while the other team scored less points. What do you think it is? ► The most logical guess would be that it means winners.

11. Practice What could the word fladder mean? ► The sentences tell me that Ryan’s dad said he could go there and when he gets there they will swim and play in the sand. Ryan also mentions not wanting a sunburn. What do you think it is? ► The most logical guess would be a lake or a beach. And, remember, we already figured out the word tramzam probably means school bus.